IPL 2022 | Kuldeep Yadav got sense of security from Delhi Capitals: Axar Patel

Delhi Capitals allrounder Axar Patel has said that Kuldeep Yadav received mental security at the Delhi Capitals camp, which brought the best out of him in the IPL 2022 game against Mumbai Indians.

Kuldeep, who hardly got a chance to play for Kolkata Knight Riders for the last two seasons, made a match-winning debut for Delhi Capitals, registering figures of 3 for 18 and was also adjudged the Player-of-the-Match in their IPL 2022 opener at the Brabourne.

"It's all about the mindset. Kuldeep struggled in the IPL as his place was not secured for KKR. So he was not sure whether he would play all their matches," Axar said at the post-match media conference when he was asked about the secret of Kuldeep's return.

He continued, "But he feels the surety of playing matches after coming over here. So if you know your place is secured, and not that you have to perform in two matches otherwise, you will be sacked from the team; then you can give your best."

Kuldeep Yadav didn't play a single match last season, and injury forced him out of the tournament. In 2020, he had played just five games before the arrival of Varun Chakravarthy, who became their first-choice spinner.

Meanwhile, Delhi bought him for INR 2 crore at the IPL mega auction, and he showed his class in the first game. He removed the key batters - Rohit Sharma and Kieron Pollard to put pressure on Mumbai in the middle overs

Axar Patel has again said that their team think-tank led by Australian legend Ricky Ponting has also boosted his morale.

"The way (head coach) Ricky (Ponting), other coaches and the captain (Rishabh Pant) extended their support to him, he could give his best," he said after Delhi registered a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indian on Sunday. "Even during the practice, we tell him you can do well. It's about that surety. He has got that mental shift that he will play all matches, so he is able to give his best."

While chasing 178, Delhi Capitals reached the target in 18.2 overs, with Axar Patel (38 not out from 17 balls) and Lalit Yadav (48 not out; 38b) taking the initiative after they were 72 for 5 within 10 overs.

"We never lost hope; we knew we could bat deep. Ricky always said never give up hope, never thought we were out of the game. So we just followed our instincts. On this wicket, you can always accelerate, so it was about taking the game deep," Patel concluded.